Discourse on Grading Vinyl...why sellers need to Play Grade!!!

Sure, in an ideal world. But the reality is, some regular "dealers" don't even have a turntable, their cleaning regime is often less than desirable and what are they playing the record on? Kludgey arm, beyond useful life stylus, etc. 

I usually enter into a dialogue with a potential seller- I'm usually buying obscure older jazz records, the occasional rock or classical thing. I get a sense of the seller and how critical they are-- oft times, there are telltales whether a record has ever been removed from its sleeve and played.

I have, on occasion, gotten a seller to play check something that has a known history of flawed pressings, but I usually try to get a good sense before I buy, and if it is an expensive hard to find pressing, will seek some assurance that if the record doesn't meet my standards, I can return it for a refund (subject to paying return shipping).

I typically explain that I try to avoid that at the outset, thus, the dialogue.

I haven't been burned too many times, and the few times I have, it has been a sorely underpriced record by an uninformed seller. (In those instances, I consider myself partially to blame- in life, there are few "bargains"). On balance, my record shopping adventures over the decades have been quite positive. 

I am not sure I agree completely with your thesis about visual examination not being effective. I have collected records over decades used ones largely  in the nineties. I examine records (with reflected light from above) before purchasing. I don’t pay attention to grading... I only want the very best. Using this method I think I am disappointed my be one in twenty or less times. That to me is pretty good. I am sure I could train someone to do this in an hour or less.  

Bought a vintage UK OG of The Beatles. While it is visually almost perfect there is consistent background noise throughout likely because of a faulty cart used to play it. Visual grading has zero value to me. I am now extremely careful asking for play grading before buying on Discogs, EBay, etc.

@voodoofunk 

yet produce persistent surface noise, crackle, or distortion during playback.

Adding to your list is boring sounding, lifeless sounding pressings.  I have had many store bought, brand new pressings that I played for 10 seconds on each side, and never played it again.

 

@kevemaher 

I don’t buy from any other vendor for used music. I only buy outside Discogs if the medium is still sealed.

Try Better Records.

https://better-records.com/

They grade on listening, and only listening.

They grade each side.  And they often grade individual songs that stand out (good or bad).

For the above labor, they charge a premium.  If you have the coin, they are just what the ear doctor ordered.

You can ask them questions.  They answer e-mail messages.

They offer a 30 day, no questions asked refund.

Their trade secret is years of tracking albums and the various, unique stamper codes that are in the dead way that is between the last song and the record’s label.

They know, for any specific title, which stamper codes to avoid, and which stamper codes to seek out.  They purchase only the stamper codes that they know to be excellent.  But even those pressings often have less than outstanding sound quality.  The right stamper code only gives you a shot at outstanding sound quality.  So they listen to each one, and they toss the rejects, and sell only the ones that meet their high standards.  The ones that sound the best will cost the most -- and also factor in how many rejects they had, and how much they paid for everything.

Except for their most costly pressings, I doubt that they listen to it from start to finish (that would take forever and be mind numbing to do all day, every day).

They probably jump from song to song, and they can tell right way how good it sounds.

I used to purchase their highest graded albums (A+++ grade), but when I lost my income, that came to a halt.  But most of my best sounding pressings came from them.  Their lower graded pressings will still be very good, but probably nothing to celebrate.  And even with their A+++ graded pressings, some of them, although very good, might fall short of expectations, because for some titles, the best sounding pressings still fall short.

They are big on The Beatles, and several other artists.

If they do not carry what you want, you can ask them to find what you are seeking.

I once asked them to find me a Deep Purple pressing and a Carpenters pressing.  It took them two or three months, but they came through.

I once asked them to find me a Madonna pressing, and they balked.  I guest that they have to like the artist.

If they do not know which stamper codes are good / bad for that album, it might take a while, and be very expensive, because when they land a winner, it will be priced to include all of their rejects.

One other item (unrelated to Better Records):

I have had many pristine looking pressings that sucked.

I have had many less than wonderful looking pressings that sound fantastic.

Your stylus digs in below the surface where scuffs reside.  So as long as the inside of the groove is undamaged, then you have a shot at great sound quality.

@seymour-krelborn 

LP mastering has far more influence on sound quality than the age of the stampers used in pressing. I always check Discogs for the details of the recording process. This is especially true for classical music. Discogs has all that info laid out to view.

Also, there are labels that are known to produce crummy or blah sounding LPs.

I've looked at the website you recommended. The prices are total rip-off. Not only that, but you are relying on somebody else's opinion.